It's time again for our ANNUAL RAFFLE!

Unlike many organizations, we only ask for your help once a year.   This is our ONLY big fundraiser, so please make sure to buy as many tickets as possible and sell them to friends and family too.   The animals are depending on you more than ever.  Please don't let them down!   EVERY TICKET SOLD REALLY HELPS, AND EVERY CENT GOES FOR THE ANIMALS' CARE.

Print your Raffle tickets by clicking here.   Or, simply fill in the quantity you'd like to buy on your Return Slip, mail it in, and our elves will fill out the tickets for you.   The drawing will take place March 1, 2012 and winners will be notified by phone or email.

We've got lots of great prizes, but as we always say:  Even though everyone might not win a raffle prize, everyone does win something of greater value:   The satisfaction of knowing that you helped save a little life!

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2011 marks Adopt-A-Pet’s 30^th Anniversary!

Help us celebrate 30 years of saving lives - Give $30 and help us save the next one!  Our 30/30 proposition, in honor or memory of your past or present pet, will enable us to continue saving more precious pets who, through no fault of their own, find themselves without a family to love them.

Those donating $30 or more will receive the following:

- 30 extra raffle entries - that's right!  Our elves will fill out tickets to double your chances!

- special recognition of your pet on our website's Honorary Pets page for 30 days (email us a photo:   donations@adoptapet-il.org)

- entered in a drawing for a 30-item gift basket

- 30 kittens delivered to your doorstep (ok - just kidding!)

And remember, no matter what size your gift, your support WILL make a difference in helping save an innocent pet’s life.

Honorary Pets

Adopt-A-Pet honors Pumpkin and Orion Boeckenhauer for commemorating Adopt-A-Pet's 30th anniversary with a memorial donation. Your support will help us to save more homeless dogs and cats and place them in loving, forever homes. Thank you!

See more Honorary Pets here and check back frequently as more are added.

Orion

Pumpkin

Orion was adopted from Adopt-A-Pet when he was a teenage kitten 6 years ago. His buddy Pumpkin is 8 years old.

LAST CALL FOR ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS!   Deadline is Jan 1st.  Purchase your 2012 Entertainment Books here!   The ultimate 2-for-1 deal!   Save $$ on restaurants, theaters, groceries, recreation and lots more . . . AND help support our animal rescue efforts. Click here for more info:

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Adorable Cartoon Animal Rescue Shirts for the Crazy Dog Guys and the Crazy Cat Ladies in your life!  Tee’s, Tanks, Sweats, Hoodies!     

                       

$5 of every item sold goes to our animals!  Over 30 awesome designs – be sure to scroll down and check out the backs – they’re all two-sided, with different sayings!

Get them here!   http://www.lacroixtees.com/animal-rescue/AdoptAPetInc/

(if link does not work, copy and paste into your address bar)

"Celebrating 30 Years of Creating Families

         … 4 Paws At A Time"

Once upon a wishful time, THIRTY years ago

A couple women had a dream to change the status quo

Far too many homeless pets were headed towards demise

There had to be a better way to save these precious lives

 

Shelters?  There were far too few, most needed overhauling

And soon these gals then realized that they had found their calling

They quickly got together, enlisted local vets

Wrote some bylaws, begged for funds, and formed Adopt-A-Pet

 

A concept yet unheard of -- a shelter without a nest?

But they took the chance and forged ahead and put it to the test

 

Their goal was very simple, they started kind of small

They knew that realistically they couldn’t save them all

Quality, not quantity, and careful adoption screening

They broke the mold & gave the catchphrase “foster home” new meaning

 

Foster parents came on board to help push forth the mission

And brought the dream of foster homes for pets into fruition

Saintly vets and volunteers have helped the mission grow

Saving poodles and labs and collies and pugs, tabbies and calico

 

First one cat and then one dog, then two, then five, then ten

Now 30 years hence 15,000 pets have breathed new life again!

 

Although our leader Gloria is not with us anymore

Her memory still inspires us to carry on this urgent chore

With her example as our guide, we keep working toward a day

When every cat is cherished, and no dog “thrown away”

 

As we bid farewell to days gone by, the challenges we braved

We must say hello to the coming years - more animals to save

For until the world’s a better place for little mews and pups

A huge job lies ahead of us – but we never will give up

 

As long as there are little paws out freezing in the rain

As long as a neglected dog lives tethered to a chain

As long as there’s an injured stray left homeless and to roam

As long as there are kittens that are born without a home

As long as there are hungry pups thrown out into the street

As long as there are helpless cats that bad people mistreat

As long as people think of pets as disposable at will

As long as there are pounds that have no options but to kill

As long as man thinks it’s okay to abandon his best friends

We’ll stay and do our darndest to stamp out these shameful trends

 

We offer our sincerest thanks to all who’ve shared the dream

We always hope for more kind hearts to come and join our team

Our gratitude we send to those too important to be missed:

Our loyal supporters -- that means you -- without whom we could not exist

 

Old friends, new friends, friends to be, and all our volunteers

Thanks to you we’re on our way to the next 30 years!               

Wondering how can you help??? ... please take a moment to watch this short inspirational video.

                           "IT TAKES A COMMUNITY"

From Business As Usual To Business As Socially Responsible

November, 2010

Wilmette Pet Center had been offering purebred puppies and kittens to Chicago area families for the last 20 years.  In  May of 2007, Dave Cozzolino became the new owner of the store. Dave was the store manager prior to the acquisition and had always felt uncomfortable selling “designer” puppies knowing there were so many wonderful dogs waiting for homes in pounds and shelters.  Since then, he has been on a relentless mission to transition the store from puppy sales to puppy adoptions, and the time has finally come for what is a major shift in the way Wilmette Pet does business - by committing its space solely to Adopt-A-Pet’s shelter dogs and cats.

Wilmette Pet began working with Adopt-A-Pet over ten years ago by occasionally fostering a cat.  The store will now be devoting ALL of its cage spaces to Adopt-A-Pet’s homeless dogs and cats, thereby turning this corner of the store into a 100% dedicated Adoption Center.

Over the last few years Wilmette Pet has been working hard towards developing a business that does not need to rely on the sale of puppies and kittens; they’ve built a loyal customer base by providing excellent customer service, having a  clean, bright store, and offering an extensive inventory at fair prices.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY to advance a cause, and the community has indeed rallied around this one.  “We want the customers of our store to know they are the biggest factor in making this work,” remarks Dave. “We’re so grateful to the many “regulars” who help out by playing with and walking the dogs, brushing and socializing the cats, and donating towels for bathing and paper shreds for bedding. Every single customer who shops in the store is a contributing factor in attaining our goal and lessening the burden on pet shelters.”

In addition, vendors of the store offer support by donating their nutritious foods and safe, quality toys to our pets awaiting adoption.  Mid-Central Printing around the corner generously donates full-color window posters featuring each of the foster pets to showcase them to passersby.

Wilmette Pet also participates in volunteer programs as well as employs individuals who have extra challenges in life.   Having caring people with special needs taking care of homeless dogs and cats helps teach them valuable life skills while working with us towards the greater good.

“This is a huge and exciting step for us,” says Dave, speaking for himself and his staff. “We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.  If the community continues to support us, I truly believe we can make this work.”

Adopt-A-Pet is grateful for the valuable retail space that is being donated to showcase our orphans, giving them an extra opportunity to find their forever families.  Wilmette Pet is a shining example of doing the right thing, and we are honored to partner with Dave and his wonderful staff.  Wilmette Pet is certainly our store of choice when shopping for our pets, and we hope it will be yours too!

From puppy sales to puppy adoptions . . . a store we can ALL be proud of!  WILMETTE PET CENTER, 625 Green Bay Rd.

OUR WISH LIST  - email for nearest drop-off location donations@adoptapet-il.org 

1. Grocery and Pet Store Gift Cards
2. Wal-Mart, Target, Office Supply Store Gift Cards
3. Copy Paper, White, Colored and 3-Hole Punch
4. Postage Stamps
   
5. Cat Litter
6. Cat Food, Dry and Canned (no generic, please)
   
7. Cat Toys
   
8. Kitten Milk Replacement
9. Cat and Dog Nail Clippers
   
10. Dog Kong Toys or equivalent
    
11. Dog Biscuits, Chew Bones (no rawhide)
    
12. Revolution, Frontline and Heartgard
13. Dog Collars, Harnesses and Leashes
14. Cat Scratching Posts, Kitty Condos and Cat Trees
15. Pet Travel Crates, Wire Dog Crates
16. Paper Towels
17. Shredded Paper for cage bedding (no staples or newspaper print, please)

New Volunteer Orientations:

Jan. 14, 9:15 am - 11:45 am - at: Northbrook Library, 1201 Cedar Ln.

Feb. 19, 8:30 am - 11:00 am - at:  Whole Foods Market, 1331 N. Rand Rd., Palatine.

For more info check it out here:    Volunteering flier

Registration required.    Email:   volunteer@adoptapet-il.org

Adopt-A-Pet is an all-volunteer group. We are always in need of more dedicated foster homes and volunteers. Come spend a morning to learn about volunteer opportunities and how you can join with us to help save more animals' lives.   Email us to register or to be put on our email reminder list.

Unconditional Love

Can you offer temporary space and a little TLC to a cat or dog awaiting its permanent home?
Adopt-A-Pet urgently seeks foster care for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.  

Medical expenses are fully paid.
Food and supplies provided.
A close match to your preference is attempted.

Sadly, the number we can assist is limited to the availability of foster people.
Please help to save a precious life!
847-870-8999 or email:   volunteer@adoptapet-il.org

Click here for more info!